Patterning device for jacquard circular knitting machines



Dec. 17, 19 P. JOSEPH 3,416,332

PATTERNING DEVICE FOR JACQUARD CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Aug. 2, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

P/EQRE L/OSEPH JOSEPH 3,416,332 PATTERNING DEVICE FOR JAcQuARb CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES Dec; 1-7, 1968 Filed Aug. 2. 1966 3 ATTOR 5Y5 I Dec. 17, 1933 P3055531 3,416,332

PATTERNING DEVICE FOR JACQUARD CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 2, 1966 Fig. 4

' INVENTOR. IDIEDQE c/ossbH AT ORNEYS P. JOSEPH 7 Dec. 17, 1968 PATTERNING DEVICE FOR JACQUARD CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 2, 1966 Fig.6

INVENTOR. P/E/QQE JOSEPH ATTO Nsrs Dec. 17, 1968 P. JOSEPH 3,416,332

PATTERNING DEVICE FOR JACQUARD CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES i 11 HIV INVENTOR.

P/EPPE (JOSEPH BY I ,4 r7- NEVS United States Patent 8 Claims. 61. 66-50) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Patterning device for Jacquard circular knitting machines having a rotating needle cylinder, including: a single endless patterning band; a plurality of work stations distributed in a circle; at least two rotating patterning wheels located at each work station, each wheel of a station, when knitting a pattern wider than the circumference of a wheel being responsible for only a portion of the width of the pattern, the entire width then consisting of consecutive portions; a plurality of jacks; a plurality of patterning sinkers for each wheel, said sinkers being vertically rnovable between a lower position and an upper jack operating position; and means associated with each wheel for interrupting operation of the jacks by the sinkers in said upper position for at least one complete revolution of that wheel, when knitting a pattern wider than the circumference of a wheel.

The invention relates to prior-art patterning devices for Jacquard circular knitting looms having an endless patterning band common to, and cooperating with, all of the patterning wheels, for the purpose of selecting, in accordance with the pattern, the patterning sinkers, located in the patterning Wheels, which selected sinkers remain selected, and thus continue to control jacks until the patterning band makes a new selection.

A known patterning device of this kind has a single patterning wheel mounted at each work station for forming stitches. As a consequence, only repeating pattern widths which do not exceed the circumference of the respective patterning wheel can be knitted. Inasmuch as the patterning wheels are distributed about the rotating needle cylinder on a circle concentric therewith, the patterning wheel circumference must be relatively small, in order to permit as large a number of work stations as possible.

With Jacquard knitting, particularly with close needle spacing, there has long been a need to increase appreciably the width of the pattern that can be knitted. It is an object of the invention to have more than one patterning wheel located at a work station and to act on the knitting implements, to satisfy this need.

The desired expansion of the width of the pattern repeated around the circumference of the needle cylinder is obtained by making each of the patterning wheels of a work station responsible for only a portion of the width of the pattern, the entire width then consisting of consecutive portions.

To prevent consecutive portions from overlapping, the knitting done at a patterning wheel is interrupted at precise intervals of time during at least one rotation of the wheel.

To this end, a multiple-part member .and an automatically controlled tongue act to move the pattern sinkers located in a work station to an intermediate position, which temporarily suspends operation of the sinkers on the jacks.

Advantageously, the tongue can be disconnected from its automatic operation and manually set in either one of two positions that the tongue assumes during its automatic operation.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, with reference to the figures of the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a simplified top view of a Jacquard circular knitting machine having a plurality of patterning wheels and a single patterning band;

FIGURE 2 is a side view of a portion of a Jacquard circular knitting machine;

FIGURE 3 is a top view in the direction of the plane of arrows A A of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a view in the direction of arrow D of FIGURE 5 of the grooved surface flattened;

FIGURE 5 is a top view of the tongue, inclined surfaces, and mechanical control of the tongue of the first patterning wheel of a work station;

FIGURE 6 is a view in the direction of arrow E FIG- URE 7;

FIGURE 7 is a view [corresponding to that of FIGURE 5, for the second patterning wheel of a work station;

FIGURE 8 is an end view in the direction of the plane of arrows B B of FIGURES 5 and 7;

FIGURE 9 is a top view of the patterning wheel taken along line IXIX of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 10 is an end view in the direction of the plane of arrows C -C of FIGURE 9;

FIGURE 11 illustrates a portion of the patterning band; and

FIGURE 12 illustrates a second kind of patterning sinker.

Only the parts of the Jacquard circular knitting machine essential to the understanding of the invention are illustrated.

A series of patterning wheels 1-24, mounted on the plate 25, is arranged about the periphery of the circular knitting machine, which has a plurality of work stations. An endless patterning band 26, which surrounds each wheel, is spirally rolled up and unrolled in a container 27.

The revolving needle cylinder 28, shown in dot-dash line (FIG. 2), has a ring gear 29 that engages a gear 30 rigid with the patterning wheel axle 31, to turn the patterning wheel 32 proper.

The general construction and principle of operation of the wheel 32 is described in the British Patent 689,232 (no corresponding US. patent). In the present the wheel will be described only to the extent necessary to understand the invention and to the extent that the wheel of the invention differs from that of the patent.

Patterning sinkers 33 are located in radial grooves of the wheel 32 and have each an expanded head 34 (FIG. 9). The heads together with a stationary cam plate 35 enables the sinkers, when they are outwardly tipped, to bring the cylinder needles 37 out of action in accordance with the pattern. The needles are connected in the manner of a hinge to the jacks 36. The two ring halves 35a cause the sinkers 33 to return to their vertical positions and guide them radially during the major part of the rotation of the wheel. Each sinker has a nose 38 which cooperates with the pattern band 26, a foot 39 that cooperates with axially movable control members 40, and a lower end 42 coming to a point 41 that cooperates with a partially circular ring 43 (FIGS. 2 and 3). The ring incorporates a bent end 44 and a wall 45 that extends to near the end 44.

The control members 40 rotate with the patterning wheel 32 and are rigidly connected to guide parts 46 (FIGS. 2 and 5). The members 40 are controlled in their movement by pins 47 riding in the grooves 49, 49a, 49b (FIGS. 2, 4, 6) of the guide members 48.

Movement from one groove to another is controlled 3 by a pivotal element 50 and a pivotal tongue 51, which are operated by inclined surfaces 52-57 (FIGURES 5, 7) rigidly mounted on or above the gear 29 which turns with the needle cylinder 28.

Movement is transmitted to the element 50 by a roller 58 mounted on a horizontally movable arm 59, then via a lever 60 mounted to pivot about a pin 61 on the bent end 620 of a toothed rack 62 to which the lever is connected, and finally by a toothed segment 63 which is positively connected to the element 50 located in the housing 64. The housing 64 and the bottom plate 64a thereof are screwed onto the plate 25 of the knitting machine.

Movement is transmitted to the tongue 51 by a roller 64 and a horizontally movable arm 65, then via a lever 66 mounted to pivot about a pin 67 on the bent end 68a of a toothed rack 68, and finally by a toothed segment 69 positively connected to the tongue 51 in the housing 64. Actually members 59, 60 and 65, 66 are notched to interlock.

The element 50 and tongue 51 can be automatically or manually pivoted.

The element 50 or tongue 51 can be manually locked in its one or other position independently of its automatic operation by individual pins 70, 71 (FIGS. 5, 8) which are engaged by the lever 60 or 66, respectively, after pivoting about pin 61, 67. The lever 60, 66 can be (position shown in FIGURE 8 by dot-dash lines) ahead or behind the pins 70, 71 and in this manner 62, 68 is advanced or withdrawn and pin 61, 67 locks the position. Tension springs 72, 73 prevent undesired pivoting of lever 60, 66.

Pins 74 (FIG. 2) in a ring 75 drive the patterning band 26, which has holes 76 (FIG. 11) that are engaged by the pins. The band also has several (here two) vertically spaced longitudinal rows of holes 77, 77 punched in accordance with the pattern.

A stationary aligning member 78 (FIG. 9), having an inclined surface 79 and mounted on a conventional cam ring (not shown), is located in front of each selector station. The member 78 controls the jacks 36 and continually returns them to the selector position. The inclined surface can also be designed as a movable part 79 which, according to its position, either returns the jacks to their inoperative position or leaves the jacks in their pattern position.

The part 79' is moved by means of an arm 80 (FIGS. 9, located on a ring half 35a and engaging a pin 81, and a lever 82 pivotally mounted on a pin 83, whereby in the one or the other position the lever engages a pin 84. A tension spring 85 prevents undesired movement of the lever 82. The cam 79' can pivot about a vertical axis, and the said cam is provided with a hole in which the pin 81 engages, the latter being interconnected with the arm 80. When the arm is pushed towards the center of the machine, the cam pivots into the inclined position. The lever 82 is pivotally on the opposite end of arm 80. This lever 82 can be locked in front of or behind the pin 84.

Since the movement of the patterning band 26 is opposite to that of the needle cylinder 28 (FIG. 1), it is necessary, as explained in the US. Patent 2,611,253, to provide a second row of punched holes 77 in the band and thus also a second set of patterning sinkers 33 which, compared to the sinkers 33, have a lower nose 38' that cooperates with the holes 77. This principle has been applied to hundreds of applicants assignees machines and is well known in the art.

The patterning device for a Jacquard circular knitting machine having a common patterning ribbon for all patterning wheels, as described above, operates as follows.

The needle cylinder 26, the patterning band 26, and the patterning wheels 1-24 move continuously in the di rection of the arrows, FIG. 1.

Since in the embodiment of the invention each work station has two patterning wheels, the explanation will first consider, for easier comprehension, only the first pattern wheel of each station: that is, the odd-numbered wheels.

To produce the first portion of the pattern width, the patterning sinker 33 (FIG. 2) is positioned by the band 26 during the first revolution of the wheel 1. For this purpose all of the sinkers 33 are first of all, before they reach the selector station of the band 26, lowered to their starting position by element 50 (FIG. 4) via pins 47 and control members 40, as explained in US. Patent 2,611,- 253 and British Patent 689,232. Next the sinkers are moved outwards (FIG. 2, left half, full line) by means of the bent end 44 (FIG. 3) of the partially circular ring 43 and the lower end 42 of the sinker 33.

The necessary position of the element 50 (FIG. 4, solid line) to ensure that the sinkers 33 are brought to their starting position is obtained by the arm 59 which is moved by the inclined surface 52 during rotation of the gear ring 29. The toothed rack 62, connected to the arm 59 by the lever 60, is thus also moved. This sequence of movements, which occurs exactly between two successive pins 47 of two neighboring control members 40, causes, through the intermediary of the toothed segment 63, an upward (with reference to FIG. 5) movement of the element 50, pivoting it from its horizontal position (broken line, FIG. 4) to its inclined position (full line, FIG. 4).

If a hole 77 of the band 26 is positioned to be entered by the nose 38 of a sinker, the sinker can remain in the position shown in full line, left side of FIG. 2.

However, if the nose cannot enter a hole 77, the sinker is forced back into its selector position (broken line, FIG. 2, left half), whereby the foot 39 is brought under control of the members 40 which subsequently will rise. The point 41 is brought to a position behind the wall 45 of the ring 43. In fact, a cutout exists in ring 43; for example: the point 41 passes through the cutout in ring 43 at the point of selection and is brought to a position behind the wall 45. The members 40 together with the assistance of the member 48 raise the sinkers under their control until the sinker heads 34, pushed radially by the cam plate 35, can select the jacks 36 hinged to the cylinder needles 37, as shown in full line at FIGURE 2, right side.

To raise the sinkers, the tongue 51 is downwardly inclined in the groove 49 (FIG. 4, full line) and thus closes off the entrance to groove 49a.

The tongue is moved to this position by the arm 65 moved by the inclined surface 55 acting on the roller '64, as the gear 29 rotates, which in turn moves the lever connected to the arm 65. This series of movements, which occurs between two successive pins 47 of two neighboring members 40, causes the tongue 51, because of the toothed segment 69 meshing with the toothed rack 68, to move upwardly (with reference to FIG. 5) and consequently out of its position shown in broken line, FIG URE 4, into the position shown in full line, FIGURE 4.

After certain of the sinkers have been raised during the first rotation of the patterning wheel 1, the pattern is left unchanged for a certain number of revolutions of the wheel 1, usually for a complete revolution of the needle cylinder, by returning no additional sinkers to their starting position.

This is obtained by the inclined surface 53 acting on the roller 58, which moves the lever 59 downwards (with reference to FIG. 5) and thus shifts the element 50 back into its horizontal position (FIG. 4, broken line). As a consequence, the members 40, and thus the sinkers 33 controlled by them, remain in their raised position the importance of which will be explained.

At the end of the first revolution of the wheel 1, the tongue 51, by means of the inclined surface 54, roller 64, and arm 65, is pivoted so that the pin 47 of the members 40 moves from the groove 49, along the inclined surface of the tongue, and into the lower groove 49a.

During the second revolution of the odd-numbered patterning wheels all of the sinkers 33 under control of the member 40 fall to an intermediate position (broken line, right side of FIG. 2) below the cam plate 35, in which the jacks 36 are no longer contacted by the sinker heads 34 and noses 38 are above the pattern band 26.

During the third rotation of the odd-numbered wheels the inclined surface 55 causes the train of movements to return the tongue 51 to its previous position, as a consequence of which all of the sinkers 33 under control of the member 40 are returned to the selector position (full line, right side of FIG. 2), in which position the heads 34 act on the jacks in accordance with the pattern, as during the first revolution of the wheels 1, 3, 5, etc.

The sequence of movements described in regard of the tongue 51 and the odd-numbered wheels occurs alternately during each rotation of a wheel, and is caused by the inclined surfaces 54, 55 precisely spaced apart on, and rigid with, the ring gear 29 and revolving with the needle cylinder 28.

The odd-numbered pattern wheels cover exactly the first half of the pattern width, since the pattern selection is temporarily suspended during the whole of every second rotation of an odd-numbered wheel: that is, the sinkers 33 do not act on the jacks 36 during every second rotation of an odd-numbered wheel.

In regard of the even-numbered patterning wheels, the sequence of movements of the tongue 51 of those wheels is exactly opposite.

When the preceding odd-numbered wheel of an evennumbered wheel has already begun to select the jacks 36, the even-numbered wheel suspends the pattern selection, and conversely.

The inclined planes 56, 57, which rotate with the needle cylinder 28, are responsible for moving the tongue 51 back and forth in the even-numbered patterning wheels. The arm 65 in these wheels (FIG. 7) is correspondingly lengthened, so that its roller 64 can cooperate with the inclined surfaces 56, 57.

The even-numbered patterning wheels cover exactly the second half of the pattern width, since the pattern selection is temporarily suspended during the whole of every second rotation of an even-numbered wheel.

Every second patterning wheel has in conjunction with it a work station for forming the stitches. The jacks 36 and respective needles 37 are raised and lowered to knit in a known manner by means not shown in a cam ring and afterwards, for reselection by the sinkers 33, they are radially aligned by the member 78 (FIG. 9).

When it is desired to produce a pattern having a width not exceeding the circumference of a single patterning wheel, the tongue 51 of each wheel, in accordance with the invention, is disconnected from automatic operation by the arm 65 by pivoting the lever 66 into its position shown in dot-dash line (FIG. 8), which moves the tongue into its position shown in full line (FIG. 4) or broken line (FIG. 6). The jacks 36 thus remain under the control of the sinkers 33, which themselves remain in their raised position and under control of the cam plate 35.

In addition, the movable parts 79 of the jacks 36 are pivoted into their operative position (dot-dash line, FIG. 9), in order to permit the jacks 36 and the cylinder needles 37 to rise with the assistance of the lift portion (not shown) of the cam ring. An extra work station for forming stitches is added.

The arm 79' which is in the form of a blade that pivots about a vertical axis is pivoted by manually pushing the arm 80, moving the lever 82 to a position behind the pin 84 where it is locked.

This exemplary embodiment permits the most favorable number of work stations to be set up for a desired pattern width, in accordance with whether a work station has one or two patterning wheels.

From this it is very easily arranged, with a suitable arrangement of inclined surfaces 54-57 on the ring gear 29, to increase the width of the pattern knitted by adding more patternnig wheels to each work station. For

'example, if each station has three wheels the width of the pattern is tripled as against the disposition in which each station has but a single wheel.

It is conceivable that the tongue 51, by pivoting the lever 66, is to be moved into its position shown in broken line (FIG. 4) and thus is not to be operated automatically. This is necessary when it is desired to suspend selection of the jacks for an indefinite time, without, however, cancelling the selection of the sinkers 33. This would be necessary, for example, when all of the jacks 36 must be raised because of faulty stitch formation.

The scope of the invention is not limited to the described embodiment of the inclined surface 52 operating the element 50 in the patterning wheel, which causes a new selection by means of the patterning band 26, which surface is rigidly mounted above the ring gear 29. The surface can also be moved between an operative and an inoperative position by other known control means. According as the surface is in the one or other position, the sinkers are repositioned after every rotation of the needle cylinder or are left in their selected position for any desired number of rotations.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the invention is applicable not only to work stations for forming stitches but also to stations for stitch or hook transfer, for example.

I claim:

1. Patterning device for Jacquard circular knitting machines having a rotating needle cylinder, including: a single endless patterning band; a plurality of work stations distributed in a circle; at least two rotating patterning wheels located at each work station, each wheel of a station, when knitting a pattern wider than the circumference of a wheel being responsible for only a portion of the width of the pattern, the entire width then consisting of consecutive portions; a plurality of jacks; a plurality of patterning sinkers for each wheel, said sinkers being vertically movable between a lower position and an upper jack operating position; and means associated with each wheel for interrupting operation of the jacks by the sinkers in said upper portion for at least one complete revolution of that wheel, when knitting a pattern wider than the circumference of a wheel.

2. The pattern device as defined in claim 1, wherein said means for interrupting includes first means for each said wheel for moving said sinkers between said lower and upper positions and a pivotal member for each said wheel cooperating with said first means, said first means and pivotal member together lowering the sinkers in said upper position to a position intermediate said lower and upper positions and out of action with said jacks, for alt least one complete revolution of the respective whee 3. The patterning device as defined in claim 2, wherein said pivotal member moves between first and second positions, said first position corresponding to said upper position of said sinkers and said second position corresponding to said intermediate position of said sinkers; second means for automatically moving said pivotal member from said first position to said second position for at least one rotation of the wheel; and third means for disengaging said second means from said pivotal member and for manually locking said pivotal member in either of said first and second positions.

4. The patterning device as defined in claim 2, wherein each sinker defines a generally vertical plane directed along the radius of the respective wheel and rotating therewith, said sinker terminating at its lower end in an elongation; and a partially circular stationary ring cooperating with said elongation.

5. The patterning device as defined in claim 2, wherein each sinker incorporates a foot for engaging said first means.

6. The patterning device as defined in claim 1, including an inclined surface located at at least one wheel of a work station, excepting at the first wheel thereof as defined by the direction of rotation of the needle cylinder, said surface being movable between a position in which the jacks remain in position to be operated upon by the sinkers to a position in which the jacks are moved by said surface to a position in which they are not operated upon by the sinkers.

7. The patterning device as defined in claim 3, including means for rotating said first means with its respective wheel; a stationary ring-like member having a series of vertically spaced grooves; at least one pin rigid with said first means for engaging in said grooves; said pivotal member in said first position afiording a path fiom the lower-most groove to the upper-most groove for said pin and said pivotal member in said second position not affording said path.

8. The patterning device as defined in claim 7, wherein said first means comprises a plurality of independent elements that together form a ring, each element incorporating an individual said pin.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS 11/1961 Italy.

OTHER REFERENCES German printed application, 1,096,534, January 1961.

WILLIAM C. REYNOLDS, Primary Examiner. 

